Thanks to a recent ruling, BHP has been made to lift the pay of these labor hire workers by an average of $30,000. This is an important change for the coal mining industry. This decision represents the union’s seventeenth successful application. It comes after the government introduced new labour hire laws negotiated with the Australian Resources and Energy Employers Association (AREEA) lobby group earlier this year.
So no wonder union officials were hailing the ruling. It underscores that there is an urgent need to address equitable pay among workers in similar roles. The decision will result in significant wage rises for thousands of labour hire workers. It’s a sign of what’s to come, our continued resolve to make sure miners get the pay they deserve.
Union’s Advocacy Leads to Victory
The substantive ruling was a big win for the mining union. This victory is further testament to the strong leadership of Mitch Hughes, the QLD state president. Hughes finds this ruling to be an important victory for coal miners. These brave workers have been on the front lines, battling to get equal pay.
“This ruling is a significant win for coal workers,” Hughes stated. His comments serve to underscore the union’s long and dogged crusade against unequal and inequitable pay scales across the industry. Though temporary, the ruling will nevertheless likely provide a strong precedent. It will focus more applications on addressing pay differences between employees performing the same or similar work.
“If you are doing the same job as the person beside you, you deserve the same pay.” – Mitch Hughes
Implications of the Ruling
The decision could also have wider implications for labour hire practices in Queensland. During 2023 negotiations with AREEA this new broad service contractor exemption was introduced. This amendment subsequently became law as part of a batch of amendments to the labour hire legislation. The decision comes in sharp response to increasing public and political scrutiny over the treatment of labor hire workers. It highlights the immediate need for transformational change throughout the industry.
Hughes has been calling for amendments to deal with the continuing problems with exploitive labour hire arrangements. He is optimistic that this ruling represents an important inflection point in pursuit of defeating BHP’s current labour hire model.
“This ruling marks a nail in the coffin for BHP’s sham labour hire model.” – Mitch Hughes
Broader Context and Future Considerations
It’s the most significant decision in the Australian coal mining industry since the Albanese government’s “same job, same pay” laws came into effect last year. It has major implications for workers and the industry. It reflects a growing movement within Australia to ensure fair compensation across various industries, especially where labour hire practices are involved.
Unions on the ground are doing everything to fight for better conditions and pay for workers. We hope this case leads to further improvements to our FAQ on legislative standing. The mining union says its success depends on lobbying for even more amendments. That demonstrates their deep desire to change labor hire practices across Queensland, for the better.
